Foldable ironing board



April 22, 1952 R. M. CATER 2,594,123

FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD Filed Aug. 1, 1946 2 SHEETS SHEET l ROY M. CATER April 22, 1952 R. M. CATER FOLDABLE IRQNING BOARD 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1946 grvum vtm 2.2-: E ROY M. CATER Patented Apr. 22, 1952 FOLDABLE IRONING BOARD Roy M. Cater; Washington, D. (7., assignor to Ernest L. Hightower, Washington, D. 0.

Application August 1, 1946, Serial No. 687,584 I 7- Claims.

Generically this invention relates to ironing boards but more particularly it is directed tosuch a device foldable into a compact form.

One of the primary objects of this invention is the provision of a device of this character-collapsible and so foldable as to concealingly encase the supporting leg structure and simulate in appearance a suitcase.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of an ironing board of this charac- I ter having leg structures adaptable to support the ironing board at different selected levels.

A further important object of this invention is the provision of a combination ironing board and carrying case.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination, and arrangement of'parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like part throughout the several figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my-improved device in open completely extended position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device'in completely folded position in the form of a carrying case.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device in partially folded position.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line l--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line '5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of the extensible leg structure with parts broken away and show ing one of the spring controlled locking boltsin enlarged detail.

I am aware that there are many prevalent types of collapsible ironing boards but nonewith which I am familiar are formed with foldable leg structures telescopically adjustable to support the ironing board at selected levels and foldable into overlying relation with respect to the board, said board being foldable to position one leg structure within the-other in a manner such that said boardis folded around one of saidleg struc-.

tures' and detachably secured thereto toforma completely closed carrying case, rendering the device easily portable and occupying a; small space when notin use.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing this invention there is shown a devicewhich, when in completely open. position, is an ironing board A and, when in completely'collapsed and folded position isinthe form of'a carryingcase B, said ironing boardA comprising sections land 2, the latter being formed with a narrowed. or tapered end 3. End pieces 4 and 5" slightly shorter-than the width of section I are adapted to project at rightangles from the under surface of thesections'l andtrespectively at their meeting-edges and areglued, nailed, or'otherwisesuitably'attached thereto andare'hingedly connected to each other-by hinges 6. Said members are adapted to bindingly engage each other. to support said sections in the samehorizontal plane; when in the position shownin Fig. l, and irrespective of downward pressure exerted on the surface of saidboard;

A member 1 corresponding to member 4' is similarly or" otherwise suitablysecured to the undersurface of "section I at its otheror-iree end andwith'its outer edge slightly rounded as at 1' Hingedly secured to each end ofmember 1 by screws or other fastening elements -a' is a leg member 9 of a length corresponding to section I and of a width twice thatof section I. A member 1" is secured between leg members '8' by screws orother suitable fastening-means and is adapted to be in alignment with member I when legs 9 are in folded'position (Figs. 2 and 31). Attached to the outer edges of legs 9-and member 'I" by screws orother suitable means are triangular pieces l0 (Figs. 2-and 3). Said pieces II] are complementally formed with respect to the tapered end 3 of section 2 to receive said'end therebetween whensaid sectionis in ioldedpositionto form a continuation thereoiand" complet ing-the formation of" side II of carrying case-B (Fig; 2). Said section 2 constitutes the-opposite side of said case; members 4 and'5 one end thereof and members 1'- and 1" the' other end of said carrying case when the parts are in completely folded-position (Fig. 2) whichwillbevwell understood;

Leg members 9 are formed. on their inner surfaces with channels' I2 in which is telescopically mountedia rectangular extensible legsection I3. Mounted on the upper. end "of leg section lit at onposite sides adapted for cooperation with the respective leg members Bis a ldckingbolt l4 slidably mounted in spaced eyescrews I5" and terminating at oneend is a finger'grin I6 formed with a lug extension I6 behin'dwhichds secured one end of a: coil spring; the'other'end ofsaid spring being hookinglyor otherwise anchoredito the eyescrew I5 to normally/project and maintain bolt I4 in a selectedopening I8 formed in leg member 9 and communicating with the bottom of channel 12. In order to limit the movement of bolt I4 and prevent its disengagement from eye screws l5 it is formed intermediate said screws with an enlargement l9. It will be noted that legs 9 are, in the present instance, each formed with a pair of spaced openings I8 so as to selectively receive a bolt H3 and lock said legs in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 or in the position shown in dotted lines to support the ironing board A at a desired level.

Said legs 9 and I3 ar maintained in vertical board supporting position by the foldable brace structure C comprising a pair of brace members 20 each secured by a pin or screw 2| to a channeled block 22 suitably secured to the inner face of each of the legs 9, the other ends of said members 2|] being hingedly connected to a pair of brace members 23 by screws 24 spaced from the ends of said members 23, the other ends of said members 23 being hingedly connected to blocks 25 by pins or screws 26, said blocks being connected to the under surface of section I by screws or other suitable fastening elements.

Interconnecting the ends of members 23 is a cross bar 21 secured by screws 28 with its ends overlying bars 23 so as to maintain said members 20 and 23 in bracing position as shown in Fig. l, but permitting their upward foldable movement to-permit the folding of legs 9 and I3 with respect to section l as shown in Fig.. 3. The other end of said board or section 2 spaced from its free end and secured to the under surface thereof by screws or other suitable fastening means is a block 29 and hingedly connected to each end of said block by screw 30 is a frame member 3|, said members at their other ends being connected by a cross piece 32 suitably secured thereto. Each of said members 3| is formed with a longitudinal channel 33 in which is telescopically slidable a rectangular extensible leg sectionv 34 operable in a manner similar to leg section l3. Mounted on the upper end of section 34 for engagement in openings I8 is a spring controlled bolt |4 operable similar to said bolts described in connection with leg structure l3. A block or angle iron 35 is secured by a screw or otherwise to cross piece 32 and one end of a brace member 36, corresponding to brace member 20 is secured thereto by pin 31, and one end of a brace member 38, corresponding to member 23, is secured to anchor block 39 by a screw or bolt 43, the inner overlapping ends of brace members 36 and 38 are hingedlyconnectedby a screw or bolt 4| and suitably secured to brace member 38 is a lug 42 adapted to engage over member 36 to prevent the downward foldable movement of said members similar to bar 21 in connection with brace structure C as will be well understood.

Inorder to secure the carrying case in closed position a flexible strap of leather or the like 43 is'tacked or otherwise secured to the end 3 of board section 2 and is provided with a snap fastener element 44 adapted for detachable connection with its complemental member 45 suitably secured to the end member 1 as will be'well understood. A handle 46 is suitably attached to or formed with strips 41 secured by screws or other'fastening elements centrally of one of the leg members 9 centrally of its length which with the other leg member constitutes the top and bottom sides of the casing 13 when the parts are in completely folded position.

To initially erect the ironing board sections and 2 are brought into alignment and the leg structures 9 and 3| into positions at right angles 4 to the ironing board A. The brace structure C and brace members 33 and 38 ar unfolded to the bracing positions shown in Fig. 1, then if it is desired to position the board at the normal level or height to be used in a standing position the leg section|3 is extended until the bolts l4 automatically engage the lowermost openings IS in leg members 9, and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and similarly with section 34 until its bolt l4 engages the lowermost opening H3 in leg section 3| as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. When it is desired to position the board at a lower level so it can be used from a sitting position, and it will be only necessary to withdraw the bolts from their respective holes l3 and adjust the leg sections l3 and 34 inwardly with respect to leg portions 9 and 3| until the bolts l4 engage in the uppermost opening |8 whereupon the ironing board will be maintained at a fixed position at such level.

To collapse the ironing board and fold it in the form of a carrying case it is only necessary to retract the extensible leg portions and fold the legs 9 upon the under surface of section and the leg section 3| similarly with respect to ironing board section 2, and fold board section 2 in closing direction positioning leg section 3| within leg section 9 and fasten snap fastener 44, whereupon sections and 2 form the sides of the carrying case, legs 9 the top and bottom sections, and the members 4 and 5 form one end and members i and 1" the other end thereby effecting the carrying case B with the leg structures encased therein.

It will be noted from the above description that the instant invention is especially adaptable for use by women lodgers, hotel guests, tourists and the like, where living space is limited, and where ironing facilities are not readily available.

From the'above it will be apparent that I have designed an ironing board of sturdy con-, struction'with leg structures of simple construction adjustable to support the ironing board at different levels, saiddevice being readily erectable and easily foldable into a self-contained compact carrying case, thereby admitting of easy portability and occupying slight space when not in use, yet manufacturable at a minimum of cost and efiicient for the purposes intended.

Although in practice it has been found that the form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and refered to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most efilcient and practical, yet realizing that conditions concurrent with the adoption of the invention will necessarily vary, it is well to emphasize that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts,-may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is desired protected by Letters Patent is as set forthjin the following claims:

1. 'Anironing board construction collapsible from open ironing position into a closed casing or suitcase form, comprising a board member composed of a pair of sections, complemental end members extending transversely of the sections adjacent to contiguous edges of the sections, hinge means joining the end bar members together and connecting the board sections, the said bar members and hinge means enabling the sections to be folded from extended position into spaced parallelism with each other, a leg assembly hingedly connected to each of the board sections for maintaining the said sections incontinuous op erative sections when the leg assemblies extend at right angles to the said sections, the leg assembly of one of the sections being positioned on the longitudinal center line of. the section, the leg assembly of the second section having members disposed laterally of the said section, eachof the leg assemblies being foldable into overlying engagement with respect to their re spective board sections, the leg assembly of the second section encasing the centrally disposed leg assembly on the first mentioned section when completely folded, the said leg assembly of the secondsection including channelmembers and leg members telescopically adjustable relative to the channel members, the said channel members defining top and bottom members of the closed casing and the board sections forming side members of the closed casing when the construction is completely collapsed.

2. An ironing board construction foldable between open ironing position and a closed casing or suitcase form, comprising a board member composed of a plurality'of sections, hinged connecting instrumentalities interconnecting adjacent sections of the board along contiguous edges thereof, the said instrumentalities including means enabling the sections to be folded between extended position and collapsed position in which the said sections are in spaced parallelism with each other, a leg assembly hingedly connected to each of the sections, there being a separate leg assembly for each section, hinge means interconnecting the eg assemblies to the sections for supporting the sections in aligned position presenting a continuous ironing surface when the leg assemblies are extended at right angles to the sections for supporting the sections in operative ironing position, the leg assemblies being foldableflatly against their respective sections, hingedly interconnected bracing instrumentalities hingedly connected to the said board sections and to the leg assemblies including a casing portion and a leg portion telescopically mounted in the casing portion and defining a substantially rectilinear frame, one of the said leg assemblies being substantially Wider than an adjacent leg assembly for erabracingly enclosing the latter and the bracing instrumentalities when the leg assemblies are folded flatly against their respective board sections and allowing the board sections to be folded into spaced parallelism for defining side mem bers of the closed suitcase-like casing, and means on the board sections secured at right angles thereto for defining closures for the said closed suitcase-like casing.

13. An ironing board construction foldable between open ironing position and a self-contained, closed suitcase-like casing when in folded and collapsed position, comprising a board member composed of a plurality of sections, hinged connecting instrumentalities interconnecting adjacent sections of the board along contiguous edges thereof, the said instrumentalities including means enabling the sections to be folded between extended position and collapsed position in which the said sections are in spaced parallelism with each other, a leg assembly hingedly mounted on each section on the underside thereof, there being a separate leg assembly for each section, hinge means interconnecting the said leg assemblies to the respective sections for supporting the sections in aligned positionipresenting a continuous ironing surface when the leg assemblies are extended at right angles to the sections for supporting the sections in operative ironing position, the leg assemblies being foldable flatly against their respective sections, hingedly interconnected bracing instrumentalities hingedly connected to the said board sections and to the leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies including a casing portion and a leg portion telescopi ally mounted in the casing portion and defining a substantially rectilinear frame, one of the said leg assemblies being substantially wider than an adjacent leg assembly for embracingly enclosing the latter and the bracing instrumentalities when the leg assemblies are folded flatly against their respective board sections and allowing the board sections to be folded into spaced parallelism for defining side members of the closed suitcase-like casing,.the hinged connecting instrumentalities for the board sections including means defining an end closure for the said suitcase-like casing, and means secured at right angles to the adjacent board section adjacent to a free end thereof intermediate the wider leg assembly defining an opposite end closure for the suitcase-like casing.

4. An iron board construction foldable between open 1: g position and a self-contained closed suitcase-like casing when in folded and collapsed position, comprising a board member composed of a plurality of sections, hinged connecting instrumentalities interconnecting adiacent sections of the board along contiguous s thereof, the said instrumentalities includ ing means enabling the sections to be folded between extended position and collapsed position in which the ectioru are in spaced parallelism with each other, a leg assembly hingedly mounted on each section on the underside thereof, there being separate leg assembly for each section, hinge means interconnecting the said leg assemblies to the respective sections for supportthe in aligned position presenting a continuous ironing surface when the leg assemblies are extended at right angles to the sections for supporting the sections in operative ironing position, the leg assemblies being foldable flatly their respective sections, hingedly interconnected bracing instruinentalities hingedly connected to the said board sections and to the leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies including a casing portion comprising side channel members and a leg portion telescopically mounted in the channel portion, and defining a substantially rectilinear frame, one of the said leg assemblies being substantially wider than an adjacent leg assembl for embracingly enclosing the latter and the bracing instrumentalities when the leg assemblies are folded flatly against their respective board sections and allowing the board sections to be folded into spaced parallelism for defining side members of the closed suitcase-like casing, the hinged connecting instrumentalities for the board sections including means defining an end closure for the said suitcase-like casing, ieans secured at right angles to the adjacent board sections adjacent to a free end thereof intermediate the wider le assembly defining an opposite end closure for the suitcaselike casing, and opposite side channel members of the casing portion of the said wider leg assembly defining top and bottom closures for the suitcase-like casing.

5. An ironingboard construction foldable between open ironing position and a self-contained suitcase-like casing when in folded and collapsed position, comprising a board member composed of a plurality of sections, hinged connecting instrumentalities interconnecting adjacent sections of the board along contiguous edges thereof, the said instrumentalities enabling the sections to be folded between extended position and collapsed position in which the said sections are in spaced parallelism with each other, one of the sections having a tapered free end, a leg assembly hingedly mounted on each section on the underside thereof, there bein a separate leg assembly for each section disposed adjacent to the free end thereof, hinge means interconnecting the said leg assemblies to the respective sections for supporting the sections in aligned position presenting a continuous ironing surface when the leg assemblies are extended at right angles to the sections for supporting the sections in operative ironing position, the leg assemblies being foldable flatly against their respective sections, hingedly interconnected bracing instrumentalities hingedly connected to the sections and to the leg assemblies including a casing portion telescopically mounted in the channel portion and defining a substantially rectilinear frame, one of the said leg assemblies being substantially wider than an adjacent leg assembly for embracingly enclosing the latter and the bracing instrumentalities when the leg assemblies are folded flatly against their respective board sections and allowing the board sectionsto be folded into spaced parallelism for defining side members of the suitcase-like casing, the hinged connecting instrumentalities for the board sections including means defining an end closure for the said suitcase-like casing, means secured at right angles to the adjacent board section adjacent to its free end and intermediate the wider leg assembly defining an opposite end closure for the suitcaselike casing, opposite side channel members of the casing portion of the wider leg assembl defining top and bottom closures for the suitcaselike casing, and triangular members mounted on the channel members complemental to the tapered free end of the said board section for interfitting therewith and completing the closure of the side of the suitcase-like casing defined by the said tapered board section.

6. An ironing board construction collapsible into a self-contained, closed suitcase-like casing sections, hinged means interconnecting the sections at their meeting edges, a leg assembly hingedly connected to each of the board sections adjacent to their free ends, and foldable with respect thereto, one of the said leg structures being substantially wider than the remaining leg structure and comprising a casing frame portion and a leg frame portion, the hinge connections between the leg assemblies and the respective board sections enabling the leg assemblies to be folded flatly against the respective sections with the wider leg assembly embracively receiving the remaining leg assembly when the leg assemblies are in completely collapsed and folded position.

7. An ironing board construction collapsible into a self-contained, closed suitcase-like casing and including a board member comprising two adjacent sections, hinge means interconnecting the sections at adjacent edges, a leg assembly hingedly connected to each of the board sections adjacent to opposite free ends thereof, one of the board sections having a narrowed free end, the leg assembly adjacent to the opposite free end of the adjacent section comprising a casing frame portion and a leg frame portion telescopically mounted in the casing frame portion and adjustably extending therefrom for positioning the board member at different operating levels, means on the casing frame portion defining a seat for the said narrowed end of the board section when the board sections are folded together, and means forming a portion of the said seat and positioned at right angles relative thereto engaging with the narrowed end on each side thereof to form in conjunction therewith a completed side of the suitcase-like casing when the board sec tions and leg assemblies are in collapsed and folded position.

ROY M. GATE-R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 78,642 Briggs June 9, 1868 1,573,691 Eichberg' Feb. 16, 1926 1,614,187 Coggins Jan. 11, 1927 2,039,642 Flint May 5, 1936 2,086,463 Bram July 6, 1937 

